The House of No Return

Players

Type:

Role Playing Game

System:

Dread

Slot(s):

#1 Friday 7pm-11pm

Game Description

The House of No Return.

It all started with a dare, two bottles of tequila, and a pair of bolt cutters.

It's just a house, you said. How bad can a HOUSE be?

And so, six students found themselves in the dusty, decrepit living room, with sleeping bags and ouija boards and other goodies to make what will absolutely be an uneventful night a little more fun. The circuit breakers were found, and the lights came on. Music was played. Instagram was flooded with photos.

And then midnight struck.

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The House of No Return is a game played in the innovative system Dread, which uses Jenga towers as its primary resolution. The tension mounts as the tower thins out, and as the stakes get higher.

As characters inevitably die [this IS a horror game] players will be given a chance to control the nightmares stalking the innocent students. This is a story you control. Will the nightmares win? Will the students live? Or will the House devour everything before dawn...

Game Master

Reller

The Athlete

Tango Your father has pushed you to attain the sort of athletic glories he was not able to in his youth. What sport is your specialty? You were pretty much a shoe-in to be team captain this season, but you don’t let sports define your entire life. What other hobby occupies much of your time? Why did you originally use sports as an excuse to remain at school rather than going straight home after school? Everyone but you expected the team captain to date the head cheerleader, but you had resolved not to give in to the cliché. What changed your mind about her? What’s the worst injury you have received while not on the playing field? What article of clothing do you wear regularly despite it no longer being in fashion? What nightmare have you had since you were small? What did your older brothers constantly tease you about when you were a child? You were planning on receiving a sports scholarship in order to go to college, but now it looks as if that has fallen through. What is your backup plan? Like many athletes, you’re fairly superstitious. What’s your good luck charm? Have you ever done something horrible, and not taken the blame for it? Whom do you pity most out of all the students in your school? What is your name?

The Best Friend

Sierra You and the head cheerleader have been best friends for many years. How did you first meet? What was the first thing you did when you got your braces removed? Have you witnessed death? Despite being best friends with the head of the cheerleading squad, you never understood her fascination with cheering. What hobby do you obsessively practice instead? What mannerism or speech pattern do you repeat often? What scared you most as a child? You were raised in a religious household of what faith? Do you still practice? When the mail arrives at your house, what do you always hope to receive but never do? Why do you feel safer when your best friend’s boyfriend, the team captain, isn’t around? What personal possession are you never found without? What advice from your mother will you never forget? Do you fear judgement for your sins? You had to be convinced to be the rich kid’s date for the weekend. What made you reverse your opinion of him and start making out in one of the bedrooms? What is your name?

The Cheerleader

Juliette As the best-looking and most-coordinated cheerleader on the squad, you fully expected to be named head cheerleader this year. However, what unexpected surprise awaited you on the squad this year? Despite viewing yourself as the best all-around cheerleader at the school, what aspect of cheering are you lacking in, and must rely on the rest of your squad to help out with? Who among your class makes you nervous? How do you combat the stereotype of cheerleaders as airheaded bimbos? What caused you to lose your temper so badly that before you knew it, you had broken another cheerleader’s nose? Why is dating the team captain such a big deal to you? What could be considered your “signature” piece of jewelry? What is the worst injury you’ve ever caused to another person? What would ruin your reputation if anyone ever found out? As a child, what did you think lurked under your bed? Which kids at the school will you not miss at all once you graduate? What were you peer pressured into doing that you regret? What is your name?

The Nerd

Cameron McDowell As a definite member of the “nerd” population of the school, you’re fairly certain you’d normally never be invited to a weekend with the popular kids. Why do you think that you got to come along this time? You’ve received academic awards for excellence in what subject? What embarrassing habit do you hide from everyone you know? In what way do you have to admit that the negative stereotype of “nerd” actually applies to you? How does the ‘nerd’ stereotype NOT define you? What do you follow with as much zeal as your schoolwork? You’ve been doing the RICH KID’s English papers for most of the quarter so far, and in return, he’s promised that he’ll put in a good word for you with the cheerleader. What makes you sure that this weekend is going to be the right time to make your move despite their obvious picking on you? What do you think of horror movies and superstition? Which item that you regularly carry has ended up being more useful than one would usually think? What waits for you in the dark? What subject are you really passionate about, but have an unusual amount of trouble with? What was the name of your first pet? What is your name?

The Rebel

Bethany Graham For what were you given detention (for the 5th time) last week? What one class do you regularly *not* skip? What one person do you actually care that you have disappointed? How did you find out about this weekend’s get-together? What horror movie terrifies you, even though you watch it all the time to prove how tough you are? How has being considered an outsider improved your high school experience? How badly were you injured in the last fight you were in? Why did you spike the BEST FRIEND’s drink when she insisted on no alcohol? What childhood nickname haunts you to this day? What is the biggest crime that you’ve ever gotten away with? Where have you been sleeping since your father threw you out of his house? What nightmare has been recurring since you were a child? What is your name?

The Rich Kid

Doug Graham You were asked to come because your SUV has enough room for all of the invited kids. For what purpose did your parents’ buy you the vehicle in the first place? The nerd has been writing your English papers for some time now, and in return you’ve agreed to set him up with the head cheerleader. How do you intend to do this, when you know she’s totally devoted to the team captain? Recently, why did your wealth cause you problems? Since you were a little kid, you’ve been having unexplained seizures, which lead to blurry vision, splitting headaches, and blackouts. When was this most embarrassing to you? What is your favorite item that, surprisingly enough, didn’t cost a lot of money? What’s the worst thing you’ve ever done to a loved one? What do you do on the weekends when your parents are at the polo field? At night, what do you fear will come for you? When friends describe you to a stranger, what one detail do they always include? What childhood trauma will return to you in dreams? What does your locker look like? What is the grossest thing you’ve ever seen? What is your name?

Discussion

Questions and Characters
posted by Reller on Wed, 25 Feb 2015

Hey everyone! I cannot WAIT to see everyone for a sppoktacular night at Gryphcon.

I have randomly assigned everyone characters. In the hovertext, you will find a set of questions. In the Dread system, a questionnaire is used as the character sheet. Please, copy your questions, and answer them, to give yourself and me an idea of who your character is!

Email me your responses at anreller@gmail.com AND/OR bring a printed copy of your questions and answers to the game. Reply here, or to my email if you have ANY questions.

Also, as this is a horror game, if you have a limit to your taste of scares and gore, please alert me so that we can all enjoy the game.

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